Arup Mitra
About
I started learning piano at the age of 6 at the Conservatory of Music, Park Forest, IL, USA, and then relocated to India where I continued learning at the Calcutta School of Music. I obtained excellent marks in all my Grade examinations of ABRSM London, and passed the LRSM Piano Performer's diploma in 1990. I subsequently became a teacher at the Calcutta School of Music, and have regularly performed in concerts and accompanied students in examinations and concerts. I was Joint Head of Western Music at the school from 2011 to 2014, where I was involved in maintaining the teaching quality standards of the school which has about 1000 students. I performed Mendelssohn's Double Concerto for Piano & Violin in D minor along with the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra 2014.
I carefully develop a plan for each student depending on his/her musical level and age. For children, I aim to make learning fun, by providing anecdotes which they can easily relate to.
For adult students who are busy in their professional lives, I try to teach them how to practice smart - so that they make the best use of their time.
For all students, I emphasize the basics - having a good technique and simultaneously understanding the mood of the music with respect to what the composer intended.
Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), London
For beginners, I always use course material which focuses on the basics like learning staff notation, and also books teaching the basics of music theory. For children, I typically use John Thompson or Leila Fletcher's books which are generally well received by youngsters. For slightly more advanced students, I recommend Czerny finger exercises or Hanon exercises to develop a really solid finger technique.